The controversial plant has received significant pushback from neighbors since construction began.
YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Construction at the controversial Silfab Solar facility in York County is on pause after investigators toured the facility and found employees who aren’t permitted for the ongoing project.
York County says that’s a workplace violation.
Separately, the Silfab facility has drawn neighborhood backlash from concerned residents. Some folks living in the area say they’re worried about air pollution and contaminants from the manufacturing process. Silfab has repeatedly said it meets all safety guidelines.
The controversy centers on community fears about chemicals used in solar panel manufacturing, particularly silane gas, which residents worry could pose risks to nearby schools and neighborhoods. Some families have already relocated rather than send their children to the new school.
“We had three families this week say they put their house on the market or have already sold their house because they had to move their kids away from Silfab,” York County Vice Chair Tom Audette told WCNC Charlotte in March.
York County initially issued Silfab Solar a zoning verification letter in 2022, followed by a tax incentive agreement in September 2023. The company has invested significantly in the facility and expects to create jobs in the region.
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